OAKLAND --- Shortstop Carlos Correa said on Friday he wouldn't shut the door on a potential early multiyear contract extension with the Astros "if the price is right."

Correa isn't eligible to become a free agent until after the 2021 season, but his contract status became a topic of conversation this week after a comment made by his agent, Greg Genske. In a story published Thursday, FanRag Sports Network quoted Genske as saying "Carlos is never going to do an (early) multiyear contract."

Correa, of course, appears to have little incentive to sign a deal that would buy out arbitration years in exchange for more money in the immediate future. He received a $4.8 million bonus when signing as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft and currently has endorsement deals with Adidas, Topps and Blast Motion.

But the 22-year-old star refuted the notion he wouldn't at least consider an extension if the Astros presented him with one. The 2015 American League Rookie of the Year did concede that if there was a deal to be made it would have to be before he reaches arbitration. He isn't in line to become arbitration eligible until after the 2018 season.

"I'm not shutting the door," he said. "The price has got be right, you know what I mean? And it's got to be early. Once I get to arbitration there's no turning back."

Correa wasn't aware of his agent's comment until a reporter approached him Friday before the Astros' series opener against the Athletics at the Coliseum.

"I've told him that I'm not going to sign any bad deals," Correa said. "I have no need to."

Correa said there haven't been any longterm extension talks to this point. He's making the league minimum $535,000 this season, his third as a major leaguer. He's in line for significant, year-to-year raises through the arbitration process after the 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons.

"I love the Astros. I love the team. I love the fans in Houston. I love everything. I've still got five more years here until I'm a free agent. So, I'm not worried about it," he said. "I'm not thinking about it right now. If the Astros are going to approach me at some point, I'm more than glad to listen to what they have to offer. But this is (a) business, so we'll see what happens."

The questions about whether the Astros will be able to afford Correa will intensify the closer he gets to free agency. The team has other cornerstones in line to become free agents well before he does. Lefthander Dallas Keuchel is under club control through only the 2018 season and second baseman Jose Altuve's extension runs through only 2019. Outfielder George Springer is under control for three more seasons after this one.

Since his much-anticipated June 2015 debut, Correa has been worth to the Astros 10.3 wins above replacement, according to Baseball Reference's version of the metric. As a rookie he burst onto the scene with 22 home runs and an .857 on-base plus slugging percentage. Last season he wasn't as productive offensively, hitting 20 home runs and posting an .811 OPS, but still accrued 6.0 WAR.

Coming into Friday, Correa was batting .282 with just a .700 OPS in 39 at-bats. He hadn't recorded an extra-base hit since his opening day home run.

Shortstop Carlos Correa said on Friday he wouldn't shut the door on a potential early multiyear contract extension with the Astros "if the price is right."

Shortstop Carlos Correa said on Friday he wouldn't shut the door on a potential early multiyear contract extension with the Astros "if the price is right."

Photo: Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

Photo: Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

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Shortstop Carlos Correa said on Friday he wouldn't shut the door on a potential early multiyear contract extension with the Astros "if the price is right."

Shortstop Carlos Correa said on Friday he wouldn't shut the door on a potential early multiyear contract extension with the Astros "if the price is right."